Dance shoe and last for making a dance shoe

ABSTRACT

A dance shoe adapted for urging a foot into an arch shape includes a shoe upper and a sole attached to the shoe upper, the sole having a heel region, a toe region and an arch extending between the heel region and the toe region. The heel of the shoe defines a horizontally extending ground plane, and the arch is sufficiently curved so that the toe region is projected downwardly below the horizontally extending ground plane. When a dancer&#39;s foot is inserted into the dance shoe, the shoe upper and the sole cooperate for urging the dancer&#39;s foot to move into a point position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to dance shoes and moreparticularly relates to dance shoes that facilitate moving a foot into apoint position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When dancing, an individual's feet are placed in many differentpositions, including the rest position, the flex position, the pointposition and the toe position. When in the point position, a foot mustbe arched with the toes pointing toward the ground. As is well known tothose skilled in the art, an arched foot typically has a curve on thebottom of the foot and a corresponding curve at the top or instep of thefoot. In the dancing arts, many refer to an arched foot as a “bananafoot.”

Although many dancers develop extraordinary abilities, some may beprecluded from advancing in their chosen field because they are unableto form an aesthetically pleasing arch when in the point position. Thus,there have been a number of advances in the dance shoe art related topresenting a foot in an aesthetically pleasing arch position. Forexample, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0033729 to Farriordiscloses an apparatus and method for augmenting a dancer's foot wherebya pad having a curved top surface is attached to the top of a dancer'sfoot. As a result, the shape of the top of the dancer's foot is moreaesthetically pleasing.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,553,196 to Solomonoff discloses a toe dancer's shoe thatenables a dancer to assume a toe position. Referring to FIGS. 1-2, theshoe 10 has an upper 12 made of fabric material and a drawstring 15 foradjusting and tightening the shoe. The shoe 10 includes a toe portion 16and padding material 17. The shoe 10 also includes a stiffened innersole 21 that facilitates formation of an extremely arched foot position.The shoe also has an additional arcuate-shaped, stiffening sole 22 thatis attached to the stiffened inner sole 21. One drawback of the '196patent is that the sole is inflexible, which prevents a dancer's footfrom moving freely between the rest, flex, point and toe positions.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,373 to Winter et al. discloses a shoe structurehaving an elongate flat leaf spring element provided in the sole of theshoe. The elongate leaf spring extends from the toe region of the shoestructure beyond the location of the metatarsal-phalangeal (M-P) jointsof the wearer, so as to provide a mechanical power assist to the wearerat the M-P joints.

In spite of the advances discussed above, none of the above-identifiedreferences teach providing a dance shoe having a flexible sole that isdesigned to normally urge the foot to move into the point position. Inaddition, none of the references teach a dance shoe having a toe regionwith zero or negative toe spring so that the shoe upper and solecooperate for urging the toes of an inserted foot to move downward.Moreover, none of the references teach a dance shoe having a flexiblesole that facilitates forming an aesthetically pleasing arch when a footis in a point position. Thus, there is a need for a dance shoe thatsatisfies these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with certain preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, a dance shoe adapted for urging a foot into an arch shapeincludes a shoe upper and a sole attached to the shoe upper. The solepreferably includes a heel region, a toe region and an arch extendingbetween the heel region and the toe region, whereby a bottom of the heelregion defines a horizontally extending ground plane. The arch isdesirably sufficiently curved so that at least a portion of the toeregion of the dance shoe is projected downwardly below the horizontallyextending ground plane. The sole may be flexible. In certain preferredembodiments, the toe region of the sole has no toe spring relative tothe horizontally extending ground plane. In other preferred embodiments,the toe region of the sole has negative toe spring relative to thehorizontally extending ground plane. When a dancer's foot having toes isinserted into the dance shoe of the present invention, the shoe upperand the sole cooperate for urging the dancer's toes downwardly and thefoot to assume an aesthetically pleasing arch position.

The sole of the dance shoe is desirably made of a material selected fromthe group consisting of rubber, polymer and leather. In highly preferredembodiments, the sole is flexible. The upper of the shoe is desirablymade of flexible materials such as fabric. In preferred embodiments, theshoe upper is made of materials including GORE®, LYCRA®, mesh fabric,stretchable fabric, leather, cotton fabric, synthetic fabric, andpolymer fabric.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a dance shoeadapted for urging a foot into a point position includes a shoe upperand a flexible sole attached to the shoe upper. The sole desirably has aheel region, a toe region and an arch extending between the heel regionand the toe region. A bottom of the heel preferably defines ahorizontally extending ground plane. The toe region of the solepreferably has at least zero toe spring and the arch is sufficientlycurved so that the toe region is projected downwardly below thehorizontally extending ground plane. In other preferred embodiments, thetoe region of the sole has negative toe spring.

In still other preferred embodiments of the present invention, a danceshoe designed for normally urging a foot into a point position includesa flexible sole having a heel region, a toe region and an arch extendingbetween the heel region and the toe region, wherein the toe region ofthe sole has a negative toe spring. The dance shoe also preferablyincludes a shoe upper attached to the sole, whereby the sole and theupper cooperate for urging a dancer's foot inserted into the dance shoeto move into the point position.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a danceshoe includes a flexible sole having a heel region, a toe region remotefrom the heel region, an arch between the heel region and the toe regionand a ball region between the arch region and the toe region. The danceshoe also preferably includes a shoe upper attached to the sole, wherebythe toe region of the flexible sole has no toe spring. In otherpreferred embodiments, the toe region of the flexible sole has negativetoe spring so that when a dancer's foot having toes is inserted into thedance shoe, the shoe upper and the sole cooperate for urging thedancer's toes downwardly.

These and other preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a foot of a dancer in a rest position.

FIG. 1B shows a foot of a dancer in a flex position.

FIG. 1C shows a foot of a dancer in a point position.

FIG. 1D shows a foot of a dancer in a toe position.

FIG. 2 shows a foot of a dancer in a point position.

FIG. 3 shows a prior art dance shoe with the foot of a dancer in thepoint position.

FIG. 4 shows a prior art shoe having toe spring.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a shoe last for a dance shoe, inaccordance with certain preferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6A shows a side elevational view of a shoe last for a dance shoe,in accordance with certain preferred embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6B shows a perspective view of the shoe last of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6C shows another side view of the shoe last of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6D shows an underside of the shoe last of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6E shows a bottom view of the shoe last of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6F shows a front elevational view of the shoe last of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6G shows a top plan view of the shoe last of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 shows a dance shoe mode using the shoe last of FIGS. 6A-6F, inaccordance with certain preferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a dance shoe made using the shoe last of FIGS. 6A-6F, inaccordance with still other preferred embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 shows a dance shoe made using the shoe last of FIGS. 6A-6F, inaccordance with yet further preferred embodiments of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

When dancing, an individual's feet must be placed in many differentpositions. FIG. 1A shows a foot in a rest position whereby both a heel22 and a ball region 24 of a shoe 20 are in contact with a ground plane26. In the rest position, the foot is relaxed and the shoe 20 generallymaintains the foot in the relaxed position. FIG. 1B shows a foot in aflexed position with the ball 24 of shoe 20 flexed so that heel 22 maybe lifted off the ground plane 26. FIG. 1C shows a foot in a pointposition with a toe 28 of shoe 20 engaging ground plane 26 and an arch30 formed between the heel 22 and the ball region 24. The top of thefoot, commonly referred to as the instep 31, is also curved. In order tomove a foot into a point position, the muscles of the foot must be usedto curve the shoe sole from the normal position shown in FIG. 1A to thearched position shown in FIG. 1C. FIG. 1D shows a foot in the toeposition, with the toe 28 of the shoe 20 engaging the ground plane 26and the heel 22 lifted off of the ground plane 26. In the toe position,the protracted arch attained in the point position (FIG. 1C) is nolonger apparent.

FIG. 2 shows a bare, human foot 32 having a heel 34, a toe region 36, aball region 38 and an arch 40. The foot is configured in what iscommonly referred to as the point position, one of the mostaesthetically pleasing positions in dance. In the point position, thearch 40 and the instep 42 are curved and the toes 36 are pointeddownwardly.

FIG. 3 shows the foot of FIG. 2 positioned in a prior art dance shoe 44.The shoe is primarily shaped to accommodate a foot that is in the restposition (FIG. 1A). This is due, in part, to the fact that shoes aregenerally manufactured using lasts that are modeled after a foot in arest position.

FIG. 3 shows some of the problems associated with prior art dance shoesthat are designed for feet in the rest position. First, when a foot isplaced in the point position, wrinkles 46 develop in the fabric of theupper located near the arch region 45 of the shoe 44. Wrinkles 48 alsodevelop in the toe region of the shoe. Moreover, the tape 50 around theshoe opening will typically pinch the dancer's ankle at the pointsdesignated 52 and 54. Gaps also tend to develop between the dancer'sheel and the heel of the shoe, as well as between the ball of thedancer's foot and the ball region of the sole of the shoe. In addition,if laces for the shoe have been tightened, a lace region 56 of the shoemay apply pressure on the instep of the foot.

FIG. 4 shows a prior art shoe 43 having a sole 45 with an upwardlyturned sole in the toe region 47. An upwardly turned sole in the toeregion is typically referred to as toe spring. A shoe with toe springurges a wearer's toes upwardly and provides resistance against adancer's efforts to move the foot into the point position. The presentinvention provides a shoe that eliminates many of the obstacles thatstand in the way of moving a dance shoe and foot into a point position.

FIG. 5 shows a last for making a dance shoe, in accordance with certainpreferred embodiments of the present invention. The last 58 includes anupper section 60 designed for forming an upper of a shoe. The uppersection 60 includes a heel region 62, a toe region 64 and anintermediate region 66 between the heel region and the toe region. Thelast 58 also includes a lower section 68 designed for forming the soleof a shoe. The lower section 68 includes a heel region 70, a toe region72, a ball region 74 and an arch region 76. In certain preferredembodiments, the last 58 is specially designed so that it has zero toespring. As used herein, the terminology “toe spring” means a featurebuilt into a last and shoe to compensate for lack or absence of shoeflexibility at the ball. As is well known to those skilled in the art,the “toe spring” of a shoe creates a rocker effect on the shoe sole sothat the shoe forces the foot to “roll” forward like the curved bottomof a rocking chair. Soles that are relatively thicker and/or stifferthan normal require even greater toe spring due to the lack offlexibility of the shoe sole. Moreover, a shoe with toe spring typicallycauses the toes of the foot to be angled upwardly approximately 5-20°.As will be described in more detail below, the shoe last of the presentinvention does not have “toe spring” so that shoes manufactured usingthe shoe last do not force the toes to tilt upwardly. In some preferredembodiments, the last has “zero toe spring,” whereby the toes are noturged upwardly as is common with conventional shoe soles. In otherpreferred embodiments, the last has “negative toe spring” so that a shoemanufactured using the last urges the toes downwardly such as into anaesthetically pleasing point position.

Referring to FIG. 5, a shoe last 58 having negative toe spring ispositioned over an imaginary, horizontally extending ground planedesignated by reference numeral 78. The bottom of heel region 70 ispositioned in substantial alignment with the ground plane 78, whereby atleast a portion of the toe region 72 of the last 58 projects downwardlybelow the ground plane 78. Thus, the toe region of the shoe last 58 hasnegative toe spring. In contrast, if the toe region 72 projected abovethe ground plane 78 as shown in FIG. 4, then the toe region would have apositive toe spring.

FIGS. 6A-6G show a shoe last, in accordance with another preferredembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, theshoe last includes an upper section 160 adapted for forming an upper ofa shoe. The upper section 160 includes a heel region 162, a toe region164 and an intermediate region 166. The shoe last 158 also includes alower section 168 adapted for forming a sole of a shoe. The lowersection 168 includes a heel region 170, a toe region 172 and a ballregion 174. The lower section 168 also includes an arch 176. The last isdesigned to manufacture a shoe having a negative toe spring so as toencourage a foot to move into a point position. As such, when animaginary, horizontally extending ground plane 178 is placed insubstantial alignment with a bottom of heel region 170 at an undersideof the last 158, the ground plane 178 extends through at least a portionof the toe region 172 of the sole.

Referring to FIGS. 6C and 6D, in one preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, a last 158 for a size 7M shoe has a heel length A ofapproximately 2.0-2.20 inches and more preferably about 2.10-2.15 inchesin length, an arch length B of approximately 3.50-3.70 inches and morepreferably about 3.60-3.65 inches, and an arch depth C measured fromapex D to imaginary line E of approximately 0.45-0.50 inches and morepreferably about 0.47 inches. The last also has a toe length F extendingbetween the toe of the last and the forward end of the arch ofapproximately 3.15-3.20 inches and more preferably about 3.19 inches inlength. The last 158 also has a toe height G of approximately 0.90-1.00inches and more preferably about 0.94 inches, an instep circumference Hof approximately 8.15-8.20 inches and more preferably about 8.19 inches,and an instep length I of approximately 6.45-6.55 inches and morepreferably about 6.50 inches in length. The last 158 also has a quarteror heel height J of approximately 2.55-2.65 inches and more preferablyabout 2.60 inches.

Referring to FIG. 6D, last 158 has a heel width K of approximately2.15-2.25 inches and more preferably about 2.20 inches. Referring toFIG. 6E, last 158 has an overall length L of approximately 8.90-9.00inches and more preferably about 8.94 inches. At the ball region 174 oflast 158, the last has a width M of approximately 2.90-3.00 inches andmore preferably about 2.95 inches. FIG. 6F shows a front elevationalview of last 158 having a toe height G of approximately 0.90-1.00 inchesand more preferably about 0.95 inches. FIG. 6G shows a top plan view oflast 158.

FIG. 7 shows a dance shoe 258, in accordance with certain preferredembodiments of the present invention. The dance shoe 258 includes a shoeupper 260 and a flexible sole 268 having a heel region 270, a toe region272 and a ball region 274. When the bottom of heel region 270 is placedin substantially parallel alignment with imaginary, horizontallyextending ground plane 278, at least a portion of the toe region 272 ofthe sole projects through the imaginary plane 278. As a result, thedance shoe 258 has negative toe spring, which normally urges a wearer'sfoot to move downwardly into a point position. Specifically, the shoeurges a wearer's toes to move downwardly. Moreover, the shoe preferablyurges the wearer's foot to move into an arch position. Moreover, sincethe sole 268 is designed to have a negative toe spring, the upper 260attached to the sole will be devoid of wrinkles that typically appear inthe upper material located above the arch 276, as well as in the uppermaterial located around the toe 272. Although not limited by anyparticular theory of operation, it is believed that the dance shoe ofthe present invention normally urges an at rest foot to move toward thepoint position. As a result, the shoe does not provide the level ofresistance found in prior art shoes as the dancer attempts to move thefoot into the point position. In addition, the shoe has a moreaesthetically pleasing appearance when in the point position because theupper of the shoe does not wrinkle and/or buckle as is found in priorart shoes.

FIG. 8 shows a dance shoe 358 in accordance with another preferredembodiments of the present invention. The dance shoe 358 includes a shoeupper 360 and a sole 368 having a heel region 370, a toe region 372 anda ball region 374. When the bottom of heel region 370 is placed insubstantially parallel alignment with imaginary, horizontally extendingground plane 378, at least a portion of the toe region 372 of the soleprojects through the imaginary plane 378. As a result, the dance shoe358 has negative toe spring, which normally urges a wearer's foot tomove downwardly into a point position.

FIG. 9 shows a dance shoe 458 in accordance with another preferredembodiments of the present invention. The dance shoe 458 has a shoeupper 460 and a sole 468 having a heel region 470, a toe region 472 anda ball region 474. When the bottom of heel region 470 is placed insubstantially parallel alignment with imaginary, horizontally extendingground plane 478, at least a portion of the toe region 472 of the soleprojects through the imaginary plane 478. As a result, the dance shoe458 has negative toe spring, which normally urges a wearer's foot tomove downwardly into a point position.

Although the present invention is not limited by any particular theoryof operation, it is believed that providing a shoe having a negative toespring will facilitate movement of the foot into the point position.Providing such a shoe will also prevent wrinkling of the material in theupper of the shoe when the foot is in the point position because theupper material is attached to the sole when the sole has a negative toespring configuration. Moreover, it is believed that providing a danceshoe with negative toe spring will urge the foot to move into a pointposition, even when a wearer's foot is at rest. Moreover, because theshoe does not resist a wearer's efforts to move to the point position,moving the foot into the point position will be easier. In addition, theaesthetic appearance of a dancer's foot will be enhanced and the shoewill help provide the protracted arch sought by dancers.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodimentsare merely illustrative of the principles and applications of thepresent invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerousmodifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that otherarrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A dance shoe adapted for urging a foot into an arch shape comprising:a shoe upper; a sole attached to said shoe upper, said sole having aheel region, a toe region and an arch extending between said heel regionand said toe region, wherein a bottom of said heel region defines ahorizontally extending ground plane; and said arch being sufficientlycurved so that at least a portion of said toe region of said dance shoeis projected downwardly below the horizontally extending ground plane.2. The dance shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sole is flexible.3. The dance shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toe region of saidsole has a bottom surface that lies below the horizontally extendingground plane.
 4. The dance shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the toeregion of said sole has no toe spring.
 5. The dance shoe as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the toe region of said sole has negative toe spring. 6.The dance shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein when a foot having toes isinserted in said dance shoe, said shoe upper and said sole cooperate forurging the toes downwardly.
 7. The dance shoe as claimed in claim 6,wherein the toes are urged downwardly below the horizontally extendingground plane.
 8. The dance shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said soleis made of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber,polymer, synthetics and leather.
 9. The dance shoe as claimed in claim1, wherein said upper is made of a material selected from the groupconsisting of GORE®, LYCRA®, mesh fabric, stretchable fabric, elasticfabric, leather, cotton fabric, synthetic fabric and polymer fabric. 10.A dance shoe adapted for urging a foot into a point position comprising:a shoe upper; a sole attached to said shoe upper, said sole having aheel region, a toe region and an arch extending between said heel regionand said toe region; a bottom of said heel defining a horizontallyextending ground plane; and the toe region of said sole has zero toespring and said arch being sufficiently curved so that said toe regionis projected downwardly below the horizontally extending ground plane.11. The dance shoe as claimed in claim 10, wherein the toe region ofsaid sole has negative toe spring.
 12. The dance shoe as claimed inclaim 10, wherein said sole is flexible.
 13. A dance shoe adapted fornormally urging a foot inserted in the shoe to move into a pointposition comprising: a flexible sole having a heel region., a toe regionand an arch extending between said heel region and said toe region,wherein said toe region of said sole has a negative toe spring; a shoeupper attached to said sole, wherein said sole and said upper cooperatefor urging an at rest foot inserted into said dance shoe to move intothe point position.
 14. A dance shoe comprising: a flexible sole havinga heel region, a toe region remote from the heel region, an arch betweenthe heel region and the toe region and a ball region between the archregion and the toe region; a shoe upper attached to said sole, whereinthe toe region of said flexible sole has no toe spring.
 15. The danceshoe as claimed in claim 14, wherein the toe region of said flexiblesole has negative toe spring so that when a dancer's foot having toes isinserted into said dance shoe, the shoe upper and the sole cooperate forurging the dancer's toes downwardly.